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4-H around the world: South Korea

4-H has spread around the world. Let’s explore 4-H in South Korea.

The South Korea 4-H program has over 70,000 members. All photos: Nancy Victorson, MSU Extension.

The Michigan State University Extension series exploring 4-H around the world continues with South Korea, which has over 70,000 4-H members. South Korea 4-H focuses on the values of agriculture, environment and life. You can even check them out on Facebook through their Korea 4-H Facebook page. The Korea 4-H Association is the 4-H activity supervising organization. According to the Korea 4-H Association, “4-H is a social education movement, which helps to inspire the youth of Korea to be agriculturally minded, as well as to become well-rounded individuals by living by the 4-H club ideals of head, heart, hands and health.”

The Korean words for the four H’s are head—chi; heart—dok; hands—no; and health—che. The Korea 4-H movement has a partnership with the public and private sector with leadership from the Rural Development Administration, the Agricultural Research and Extension Services and the Korea 4-H Association.

How does 4-H look in South Korea? 4-H started in Korea in 1945 after its independence from Japan. Clubs were known as “rural youth clubs” designed to help youth play a role in reviving underdeveloped rural communities. In the early 50s there were 1,900 4-H clubs with 50,000 members. During the Korean War, 4-H clubs were not active. After the war, with government and private support, 4-H became a driving force in post-war redevelopment in rural communities. With the industrialization of Korea in the 90s, more people began moving to the cities from the rural areas, which impacted the agricultural 4-H program. To increase 4-H participation, programming was expanded to urban schools. The National 4-H Center was founded in Seoul in 1990.

Korea 4-H has three age groups with programs designed for each group. Childhood 4-H members, aged 9-12, have a focus on learning 4-H ideas and developing an agricultural and eco-friendly mind. Teenager 4-H, aged 13-19, focuses on youth leadership and life skill development and developing the potential to be an agricultural successor. Young adult 4-H, aged 20-29, focuses on helping youth become young leaders in their community and on developing advanced farmers. Adult leaders are 30 and older. Five percent of the clubs are in 2,000 schools with clubs being led by teachers during the school day. The 4-H program offers group and individual-based projects, a variety of educational training programs, outdoor activities, a national completion and fair festival, a national 4-H, and international exchanges.

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Related Resources

Michigan State University Extension| MSU Extension's goal is that every Michigan child is prepared for a healthy and productive life. Children and youth programming is in five areas: capacity building for youth programs, workforce development, enhancing science literacy, and leadership.

Michigan State University Extension| With a goal of ensuring every Michigan child is prepared with the knowledge, tools and skills to lead a healthy and productive life, MSU Extension’s children and youth programming uses the experiential learning model through which children learn best.

| During the 2016 National 4-H Week, occurring October 2-8, Michigan 4-H is encouraging people everywhere to help spread the word about 4-H by participating in the “4-H Grown” campaign on social media.

Michigan State University Extension | Life skills are a basic foundation that prepare youth for success in life. The goal is that every youth possess the necessary life skills to succeed and lead a productive life.